Mom puts the sparkle in star

Diggins grounded by a mother who encourages her to excel. Girls semistate pairings

Diggins grounded by a mother who encourages her to excel. Girls semistate pairings

February 21, 2008|SCOTT DAVIDSON Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- Skylar Diggins' eyes sparkle when she talks about her mother. Her million-dollar smile lights up the entire Washington gym. The same can be said when Renee Scott discusses her daughter. The pair, who could pass as sisters, have a relationship that can only be described as special. "She's the epitome of a mother,'' Diggins said. "We have the closest relationship you can have. In my eyes, it's at a another level. "She's always been there for me. She's been a provider and the strength that holds the family together. I'm blessed and lucky to have the family I do. It's humbling to be that blessed.'' Diggins, one of the nation's top juniors, is the complete package. The 17-year-old is much more than a basketball player. She excels in the classroom and has become quite the role model for countless young girls. Diggins always finds time for her fans -- whether it's with an autograph, photo opportunity, a hug and a smile or encouraging words -- constantly making sure they all feel important. Her mom says aiming high has always been a priority for Skylar. "We set the bar high early on for Skylar in everything -- academics, basketball, whatever she wanted to,'' said Scott. "We've always told her, 'Don't let anything stop you, and never let anyone tell you that you can't accomplish something.' "She's always believed in herself and has strived for excellence in everything. We've just tried to support her and do whatever we can to help her. We've stressed that it's about so much more than basketball. It's just a stepping stone. She plays because she loves it. We've never pushed her to play. "The thing is that we have such a huge family and it's played such a big role in her life. It really is a great support system for her. We bought over 200 tickets for our family for the state finals last year. Her grandparents have been a big help.'' Diggins, a star since day one of her prep career, has been able to thrive despite the intense pressure and constant scrutiny that has accompanied her the last three years. It helps that stepfather Maurice Scott is the Panthers' JV coach, director of the Martin Luther King Center, and has been involved with her since she was about 3 years old. Her father Tige, who now resides in Florida, played basketball at Clay. Skylar still maintains a close relationship with him as well. "I'm most proud of how she carries herself as a person,'' said Scott, whose son Junior (Maurice Scott, Jr.) is 9. "There's an incredible amount of pressure and she is still a kid. She's just been able to handle it so well. "The best thing about basketball is the relationships she's been able to build. Those have been so important and have helped her grow so much as a person. "It's just been huge to us the way people have supported and encouraged her. It's been amazing and it means a lot to our family. Everyone at Washington has been so good. Coach (Marilyn) Coddens has just been a blessing. She really wants to see all of her players do well and succeed.'' The pair do have so much in common. Renee, an Adams grad who was a cheerleader and gymnast, has taught her daughter well. "I've learned so much from her,'' Diggins said. "There's a lot of her in me. She's always been there for me and told me the sky's the limit and I can be anything I want to be. "It's all about the respect and love I have for her. She's always preached to be humble and appreciative. If I got full of myself, she and Mo would snap me right back and bring me back down.'' Scott, who has been married to Maurice for almost 11 years, knows where Skylar's unbelievable competitive streak comes from. "Skylar is just so competitive in everything she does, not just basketball,'' said Scott, who at 5-foot-1 is towered over by her 5-9 daughter. "She hates to lose at anything. That started at an early age. She's so strong-willed and when she puts her mind to something no one can tell her different. She speaks her mind and gets that from me.'' "People just see how fierce a competitor she is on the court. But, she's goofy and just loves to have fun off of it.'' Diggins, who was offered a scholarship by Notre Dame prior to her freshman year, has been an impact player like no other the city has ever seen. The southpaw guard is 75-5 at Washington with a state title in 2007 and a runner-up finish in 2006. Diggins, who is still considering all of her vast college options, leads the state in scoring at 29.5 points a game and is poised at the semistate Saturday to eclipse the city girls career scoring record (Tracy Pearson of Adams, 1,995) and reach 2,000 points. But it's the bond she shares with her mother that makes the personable pair truly unique. "We're really so much alike that it's scary,'' said Scott. "Sometimes when we're talking we finish each other's sentences. "She is just so special to me.'' It's a feeling that is definitely mutual.